variants
also dumfounding
as in surprising
causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness
the dumbfounding sight of the race car driver walking away from that horrific crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also dumfounding
as in amazing
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the surprise ending will dumbfound even the most seasoned mystery reader
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumbfounding
Adjective
-
By now, the unlikely should not be surprising for the Stars.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
28 Feb. 2026 -
The more surprising turns came a few days ago.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Baz Luhrmann’s startling new movie about Elvis Presley began, the director says, with an accident.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
That's lighter than a typical hardcover book, which is a startling thing to consider given the dollar figure attached to it.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Both teamed up with Mike Curtis, Brad Townsend and Shawn McFarland for top 10 in event coverage, the aftermath of Luka Doncic’s shocking trade from the Mavs to the Lakers.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Coviello, a junior guard, recorded the first of his five assists on a 3-pointer by Kelly that started a shocking 15-0 run in the first quarter.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
At The Boca Raton Beach Club Plan your stay so that your home base is The Boca Raton Beach Club, which, as the name suggests, offers half a mile of beach and a stunning pool that isn't to be missed!—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The beauty and flavors of her creation are stunning.—
Angela Hansberger,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The irony now is that, as Vance feared, American missile interceptors necessary to deter the Chinese military are being burned through at an astonishing rate—just not by the Ukrainians.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Analysts have revised their 2026 capex expectations for these tech giants to an astonishing $667 billion, a 24% increase from just the start of the earnings season and representing a 62% jump compared with 2025.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Dumbfounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumbfounding. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
